Summer in Winter
Composer Curt Oliver -- Text Richard Crashaw
Voicing Unison voices and keyboard
Topics Christmas
Length 2' 30" Price $1.35 (U.S.) Released 6/98
Catalog no. 405-205 Difficulty Moderately easy
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Review
"Summer in Winter is an interesting composition using a paradoxical text by Richard Crashaw (1613-1649):
'Welcome all wonders in one sight!
Eternity shut in a span.
Summer in winter. Day in night.
Heaven in earth, and God in man.
Great little one!
whose all embracing birth lifts to heaven
stooops heaven to earth!'
Curt Oliver's vocal writing is not difficult, but his use of diminished fourths and lowered sevenths will demand careful tuning. The tessitura lies well within normal range. Oliver uses numerous changes in meter throughout the work, but these fall on stressed syllables in the text, making them easy to accomplish. Conductors looking for a unison piece that is challenging musically and textually will find Summer in Winter worth exploring" Steven R. Gibson, Choral Journal, September 2000
Description
A graceful interpretation of Christmas verses by the 17th century mystic poet Richard Crashaw. Singable by unison choir or soloist, its artful simplicity will gratify performers and listeners alike. Perfect for Christmas Eve.
Anthem text
Gloomy night embraced the place where the noble infant lay.
The babe looked up and showed his face, in spite of darkness, it was day.
It was thy day, sweet? and did rise not from the east, but from thine eyes.
Winter chide aloud; and sent the angry North to wage his wars.
The North forgot his fierce intent; and left perfumes instead of scars.
By those sweet eyes' persuasive powers where he meant frost,
he scattered flowers.
Welcome all wonders in one sight! Eternity shut in a span.
Summer in winter. Day in night. Heaven in earth, and God in man.
Great little one! whose all embracing birth lifts to heaven
stooops heaven to earth!
-Richard Crashaw (1613-1649)
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